Question

excerpt 1. polemarchus’ view of justice (republic pages 5-6)
socrates: then the following is not the definition of justice: to speak the truth and repay what one has borrowed.
polemarchus interrupted: it certainly is, socrates, if indeed we are to trust simonides at all.
cephalus: well, then, i will hand over the discussion to you, since it is time for me to look after my sacrifices.
polemarchus replied with a laugh: certainly.
socrates: then tell us, heir to the discussion, just what simonides said about justice that you think is correct.
polemarchus: he said it is just to give to each what is owed to him. and a fine saying it is, in my view.
socrates: well, now, it is not easy to disagree with simonides, since he is a wise and godlike man. but what exactly does he mean? perhaps you know, polemarchus, but i do not understand. clearly, he does not mean what we said a moment ago—namely, giving back to someone whatever he has lent to you, even if he is out of his mind when he asks for it. and yet what he has lent to you is surely something that is owed to him, isn’t it?
polemarchus: yes.
socrates: but when he is out of his mind, it is, under no circumstances, to be given to him?
polemarchus: true.
socrates: then it seems simonides must have meant something else when he says that to return what is owed is just.
polemarchus: something else indeed, by zeus! he meant friends owe something good to their friends, never something bad.
socrates: i understand. you mean someone does not give a lender what he is owed by giving him gold, when the giving and taking would be harmful, and both he and the lender are friends. isn’t that what you say simonides meant?
polemarchus: it certainly is.
socrates: now what about this? should one also give to one’s enemies whatever is owed to them? what is in fact owed to them. and what an enemy owes an enemy, in my view, is also precisely what is appropriate—something bad.
polemarchus: yes, by all means. what is in fact owed to them. and what an enemy owes an enemy, in my view, is also precisely what is appropriate—something bad.
socrates: it seems, then, simonides was speaking in riddles—just like a poet!—when he said what he meant, it seems, is that it is just to give to each what is appropriate to him, and this is what he called giving him what he is owed.
polemarchus: what else did you think he meant?

justice learning pit
step 1: define justice in your own words. give as clear of a definition as possible
step 2: read and take notes on each of the excerpts from plato’s republic
your notes
discussion notes
excerpt 1
excerpt 2
step 3: revise your original definition using some of the language/ideas from both excerpts

Explanation:

The problem involves analyzing a philosophical text (from Plato's Republic) about the definition of justice, which falls under the Arts subfield of Philosophy. The task requires interpreting the dialogue between Socrates and Polemarchus, understanding their discussion on what justice (repaying debts, treating friends and enemies appropriately) means. Philosophical analysis of such texts, especially from classical philosophy, is a key part of Philosophy.

Answer:

Arts - Philosophy